Document vBmy739jv6eoEvzQMamea2wZY

FILE NAME: Power Generation (POW) DATE: 1950 July DOC#: POW013 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Published Article from Trade Journal ( ' tiri i isfei: fi;-. ' k I p wW w& P I CROSS-INDEX OF SUBJECTS FOR THE MONTH JULY 1950 VOL 94 NO. 7 P W SWAIN Editor L N ROWLEY Executive Editor F A ANNETT J C McCABE B G A SKROTZKI Associate Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor T G HICKS J J O'CONNOR C F SANDERS C F MARSCHALEK Assistant Editor Assistant Editor Assistant Editor Art Editor SHELTON FISHER Publisher W J HARING Sales Manager W ashin g ton : G EO R G E B BRYANT JR Adonta: EA R IE MAULDIN WORLD NEW S O FFICES: London. P aris. Frankfurt. Tokyo. M elb ou rn e, Rio de Janeiro, M exico C ity FEATURE ARTICLES PLANT OPERATING METHODS, MAINTENANCE AND SAFE STEAM GENERATION, FUELS, FIRING AND COMBUSTION tURMNES, ENGINES, AUXIUARISS, HYDRO ROWER DIESELS, GAS ENGINES AND ACCESSORIES : r.'V.Vi AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, ELEVATORS j m PIPIN G, VALVES AND SPECIALTIES ,,. \ ' .V . \ TM .. SSjX i Cin Y, >. -v. - i, . ^ TRAN SM ISSION , LUBRICATION K STEAM S E R V IC E S , H EATIN G . . `-X - . ...V .. . ..-..ft. . . . . . . . . . vxJrX . INSTRUMENTS, CONTROLS PUMPS, COMPRESSORS j ; >$| . : ; ff$ l f t .'f t - * 120 radial engines make cheap kilowatt-hours.................................................... 76 It pays to know your centrifugal boiler-feed pum ps......................................... 82 How to handle ammonia safely................................................................................ 85 Some gripes about grease........................................................................................... 88 Pneumatic ash-handling system s............................................................................... 90 Pulling stubborn keys from m achines..................................................................... 94 Inexpensive fluorescent solution spots condenser leaks quickly 96 New controls for tube-film d eposit.......................................................................... 98 Mechanical vibrations: A n g le and amplitude -- 2 ............................................102 Load needs dictate motor se le ctio n ......................................................................... 104 Tile pipe helps generator load test...........................................................................106 Pump veterans retire after 50 years.......................................................................... 107 Letters from a turbine specialist -- 1 2 ....................................................................111 How to apply 8 5 % magnesia heat insulation..................................................... 112 Controlling steam-station efficiency: 1 .....................................................................116 Temporary generator tailored to fit - ........................................................................ 119 - : ' < 4 - '4 1 ;,,ft ; it' \ * . > !J .fi- : i E ft-- V* v s m if 4 i: JO; . 'A jjM i |i X u 4 ffe f" ' ; . :> r > . --V: " . . ;*. 4. %Jr . z:4 . j 4 ; j-:" - . i' : i ! ! ' i - S i * : 4 j !\"' , j : ; 4 : !n 4 : . -i ; j : 4 . : < `i . 4 \4 p Census data reveal U .S. power pattern................................................................... 120 Instruments put know-how into chemical recovery unit's operation..............122 DEPARTMENTS 4 4 . --ft; ft .s; 4 4 ! < * _ ; 4 : ' ........ i 1 .< | i .< ] 4 4' 4. ;- 4 ` ' r ;! ! ft 4 r-v * 4 4 4 4 V ` Electronics: Smoke-density indicators -- Part 3 ...................................................1 26 4 4 ; 4 4 4 ft 4 Power engineer's notebook of plant-tested id e a s.............................................. 1 30 Problems from the plant...............................................................................................1 34 Technical briefs..............................138 Plant equipment n ew s................... 148 Power news.....................................1 42 George Edwards.............................. 154 Datj sheet........................................1 46 Reader's service page................ f l9 6 a i 4. [ 1 , 4 'x 4 4 4 i 5. -, M . 4 '-- : L j4_ 4 1 4 - 4 f. - : 4< U 4 4 4 ;< 4 4.:<s 4 L \ 4 4 4 i 4 j ft 4 -- 4 . , ' _Jj _ i - A . VOLUME 94, NUMBER 7 ABC ABP COPYRIGHT 1950 by. McGRAW-HILl PUBLISHING C O ,, INC. A IL RIGHTS RESERVED t " ? H McGraw (1860-1948) Founder; Curtis W McGraw, Presidf1P*WIIard Chevalier, Executive Vice-President; Joseph A Gerardi, Vice-President and ireasurer; John J Cooke Secretary; Paul Montgomery, Senior Vice-President, Publications Division; Nelson Bond, Vice-President and Director of Advertising; w C - t . ' , " L i * V'-President and Director of Circulation DISTRICT MANAGERS; New York, W W Quarles; Philadelphia, C R Long; Cleveland, N O ^EEDmITTnorJi|rai ilC AAlNuDr?,iE?XE^CUi ,TT.I9VvDE Oo FrFi ,IrCrE:,K3x3S0i W 42n"di St, NweawteYC;or1k* 1,o8iNV sYb C BSC.uasbL'llet nAd*drePsUs:BL"|MCAcTGIrOawN-HOilFl FINCeEw; 4Y1o8rkW" est ZD5tIhSTSRtI,CTNeOwFFYIoCrEkS: I , 52N0. YN. 22- lcTn AuVe" Ch`f ? a ; ? P?s , Sf F'" " ' 1 0; N?*10" 01 Press Bldg, Washington 4; Architects Bldg, Philadelphia 3; 738-9 Oliver Bldg, Pittsburgh BMo ' i H,,ann,a ,9,l.?v5!and,,,15; 2980 Penobscot Bldg, Detroit 26; Continental Bldg, St. Louis 8; 1427 Statler Bldg, Boston 16; 1011 Rhodes-Haverty in!?9' a . ,a 2; " I l Wilshire Bldg, Los Angeles 17; First National Bank Bldg, Dallas 1; Aldwych House, Aldwych London WC2 POWER articles are inaexed in both the Industrial Arts and the Engineering Index POWER issues its own index annually; copies are available on request to the editorial ottices, 330 W 42nd St, New York 18. POW ER July 1950 Insulation Handbook: Part 4 How to Apply 851%Magnesia Heat Insulation ^ By PHIL SWAIN, EDITOR WIRED SECTIONAL Here factory canvas is removed. Use at least 3 annealed iron wires per section. Twist wire ends together, bend over and press into insulation for protection. Stagger lengthwise joints. Point up all joints with 85% magnesia cement. An alternate method omits wiring, pastes down laps on factory canvas and applies metal hands DOUBLE LAYER Handle inner layer as before. Apply outer layer with all joints staggered. Outer layer may be wired without canvas like inner layer, or may be finished by pasting down factorycanvas and banding Tie wires wire mesh v Sectional insulation j Block insulation If Insulating cement in joints 112 SEWED CANVAS JACKET If cost of better looking, more durable job is warranted, remove factory canvas. Apply layers as above, followed by rosin-sized or sheathing paper. Stretch 8-oz canvas over paper, sew in place, coat with glue sizing, paint as de sired. To avoid scorching canvas finish by heat from nearby flanges or other uninsulated surfaces, stop canvas and paper a few inches short of insulation end. Finish ex posed ends with asbestos cement PARALLEL PIPING Where two parallel pipes are too close for convenient separate insulation, or where a steam pipe must protect a water pipe from freezing, or keep oil line warm, arrange ment pictured is convenient and practical P OWER July 1950 Practical know-how in convenient form. Drawings and con densed instructions summarize standard procedures in the 85% Magnesia Insulation Manual, published by the Magnesia Insulation Manufacturers' Association, of Washington, D. C. LARGE VALVES To insulate valves of 4-inch pipe size or larger, build cover of block or sectional insulation of any convenient shape. Tie together with wires. Seal crevices with in sulating cement. Use solid insulation half-inch thinner than pipe insulation to allow for cement finish. Then build to full thickness with asbestos cement, 2 coats. LARGE FITTINGS Treat fittings, 4-inch and up, same as valves. Note: For valves and fittings under 4-inch, cover directly with asbestos cement in several half-inch layers to bring total thickness up to that of pipe covering. Allow each coat to dry before applying the next PERMANENT FLANGE INSULATION Wire sectional insulation or blocks firmly in place and cover with asbestos cement. Extend flange insulation at least 2 inches over adjacent pipe insulation. Fill open space (in overlap with insulating material. Cut back and bevel pipe insulation'"to allow removing bolts REPLACEABLE FLANGE* INSULATION Design pictured can be removed and replaced. Wrap sectional insulation with wire mesh and finish with asbestos cement. Or build wire mesh in two halves, cover with blocks. Cover this with wire mesh and cement inside and out POWER July 1950 For more insulation facts, turn page-y Practical know-how in convenient form. Drawings and con densed instructions summarize standard procedures in the 8 5% Magnesia Insulation Manual, published by the Magnesia Insulation Manufacturers' Association, of Washington, D. C. LARGE VALVES To insulate valves of 4-inch pipe size or larger, build cover of block or sectional insulation of any convenient shape. Tie together with wires. Seal crevices with in sulating cement. Use solid insulation half-inch thinner than pipe insulation to allow for cement finish. Then build to full thickness with asbestos cement, 2 coats. LARGE FITTINGS .Treat fittings, 4-incli and up, same as valves. Note: For valves and fittings under 4-inch, cover directly with asbestos cement in several half-inch layers to bring total thickness up to that of pipe covering. Allow each coat to dry before applying the next PERMANENT FLANGE INSULATION Wire sectional insulation or blocks firmly in place and cover with asbestos cement. Extend flange insulation at least 2 inches- over adjacent pipe insulation. Fill open space (in overlap) with insulating material. Cut back and bevel pipe insulation to allow removing bolts REPLACEABLE FLANGE INSULATION vzm Design pictured can be removed and replaced. rap sectional insulation with wire mesh and finish with asbestos Cement. Or build wire mesh in two halves, cover with blocks. Cover this with wire mesh and cement inside and out p o w e r j uiy 1950 For more insulation facts, turn page-y HANDBOOK: PART 4 Continued, Two cob les Metal straps h Insulating block Corner bead m 1* ' \ STEEL DRUMS Where full circumference is not exposed, as with boiler drums, install firm anchorages. Fit blocks to cylinder, stag gering jointsTand 'bind firmly with annealed iron wire laced through steel straps or wire cables DRUM HEAD Secure job requires anchoring blocks in manner shown, or equivalent. Since curved blocks are not available to fit round end of tank, pieces of flat block are used. These are held in place by network of wires. Finish with asbestos cement in one or several layers. HORIZONTAL TANK Horizontal tank pictured is completely encircled by in sulation. Note that insulation in lower half tends to sag from tank, so must be more firmly held in place. Angle irons shown are one way. Asbestos cement finish HORIZONTAL TANK END Anchoring method, much like that for boiler-drum end but with more gradual curve, may allow use of full-size blocks. Asbestos cement finish DUCTS WITHOUT STIFFENERS Case pictured: breeching, duct or flue with no stiffeners or ""other projections. Nor is any provision needed for expansion. Blocks applied directly to surface and held by wire cables or metal straps. Metal beads protect corners P O W ER July 1950 DUCT SURFACE WITH STIFFENERS When projections are far apart and there's no need to allow for expansion and contraction, wire blocks directly to surface and insulate stiffeners as pictured below STIFFENER INSULATION Half sections may be used to insulate stiffeners or other projections on ducts, shown above DUCTS WITH PROJECTIONS Where stiffeners or other projections are closely spaced, or where you must allow for expansion or contraction, stretch heavy-iron-wire fabric over the projections to form a foundation. Then wire blocks in place and finish with asbes tos cement in the usual manner Corner bead M etal straps Insulating block \ Stiffener Facts to Remember About 85!% Magnesia As t h e n a m e SUGGESTS, 85% m a g nesia contains not less than 85% of magnesium carbonate. To this white, crystalline, extremely light insulating material, the makers add 15% of as bestos fiber as a binder. The wet mixture of magnesium car bonate and asbestos fibers is shaped first by molding and drying, then (usu ally) by machining to commercial di mensions. Usual commercial shapes are split shells--called sectional insulation ---for piping, flat blocks, also curved blocks -- segmental insulation--to fit large piping and tanks. The K Factor In a recent test of a commercial block of 85% magnesia, the U.S. Bureau of Standards measured the density as 13.2 lb per cu ft. The K value (Btu transmitted per hr per sq ft for a temperature gradient of 1 deg F per inch of thickness) was 0.39 at 130 F mean temperature. This compares with MIMA values of 0.39 at 100 F mean temperature, 0.45 at 300 F, and 0.51 at 500 F. 85% magnesia insulation withstands temperatures up to 600 F without damage. Above 600 F the material be gins to calcine. It withstands repeated wetting and drying. For heated surfaces operating above 600 F, an 85% magnesium outer layer is customarily applied over an inner layer of high temperature insulation--usually "diatomaceous silica," molded with a binding component of asbestos fiber. Commercial thicknesses of sectional insulation and blocks include 1%, 2, 2(4, and 3 in. Sectional insulation is also available in graded sizes known as "standard" and "double standard." See table below: Insulation Thickness: Standard (S) And Double Standard (DS) Pipe size, nominal y2 to i - y 2 2 to `3-y2 4 5 &6 8 & 10 12 and over 5 7/8 1 -1/32 i-y8 i-y8 i-y4 i-y2 DS 1 -2 9 /3 2 2 -5 /3 2 2 -y4 2 -5 /1 6 2-y2 3 P O W ER July 1950 115 What's wrong with this picture? Applying 85% Magnesia Block to an outdoor tank the way these men are doing it m ay lead to future trouble. T hey're banding the insula tion on in regular courses instead of staggering the blocks. This will not cause appreciable heat loss, b u t it will focus the effects of expansion and contraction on definite circum ferential lines. Eventually the weatherproof finish will crack all the way around the tank along the line where the ends of the insulation blocks butt together. The w ay to guard against this failure is sim ply to stagger the insulation block for block, as shown in the sm all drawing a t the bot tom of page. These inter locking courses distribute the strain of expansion and contraction evenly among all the joints, reducing the danger of breaks in the weatherproof finish. The correct way to line up insulating block is common knowledge w ith experienced insula tion mechanics. T hey don't m ake the kind of mistakes th a t will shorten the life of the work and lessen its efficiency. T h a t's one reason why it pays to have your heat insulation done by a contracting organization like Armstrong, that employs well-trained men to work under ex perienced foremen and superintendents. The next time you need any heat insulation work done, why not call in this expe rienced contractor? Just phone the A rm strong office nearest you or write direct to Armstrong Cork Com pany, 7007 M aple Avenue, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. M AT E RIA I S ^1N STA l l AXV H OR ALL TEMPERATURES FROM 300F. BELOW ZERO * - t * ._ h - <* . -.* f t * * * . m i * ..- W si * !* . * 3 -* j PO W ER July 1950 1800*F .v 175 Equipment that's too hot to touch is obvi ously a soft touch for the escape of power laden B tu 's . . . a fa t touch on your fuel dollars! Check power losses, cut production costs, raise efficiency and employee morale with fuel-saving, CAREY Industrial Insulation. CAREY Makes The Complete Line ,8 5 % Magnesia-- Industrial Rock Wool Asbestos-- Pipe Coverings -- Sheets-- Blocks-- Batts-- Papers-- Air-Cell Write for your free copy of " Heat Insulation For .|ndustr.jj|j^y.dress your request to Dept. PO-7, The Philip Carey Manufacturing Company, Cincinnati 15, Ohio. In Canada: The Philip Carey Company, Ltd., 1557 MacKay Street, Montreal 25, P.Q. r : I ' | S Call your Carey representative today. He's a trained expert who is eager to serve you. 216 iate future in the U.S.? (3) What gen eral policies of the coal industry would be indicated to best improve position of power and coal? An accompanying table shows the relative competitive position of bituminous coal, petroleum products, and natural gas as fuel. The author points out several places where there is no competition between the basic fuels. For instance, bituminous coal used for the manufacture of metal lurgical coke, or kerosene for use as range oil in New England where it has displaced anthracite. Coal's immediate future competition is (1) continued conversion of steam motive power to diesel operation (2) expansion of natural-gas pipelines (31 tendency for increased yield of fuel oil from domestic petroleum sources, ihe author then discusses in some detail dieselization of the transportation in dustry, expansion of natural-gas pipe lines, and the possible future for fuel oil. As he sees it, coal stands to lose in the next five years 20.000,000 tons by dieselization. 80.000,000 tons to natural gas. 20.000,000 tons from addi tional sales of fuel'oil. Coal consump tion for fuel purposes only may well drop to within range of 210.000.000 to. 230.000.000 tons annually before popu lation increases or energy requirementper capita, or lowering of supply o) competitive fuels changes this picture Future promise for coal seems to lie in the central-station field. Total con sumption of bituminous coal by the elec trie-power utilities for electricity is non twice what it was in 1939, and over 40, 000.000 tons more coal are being re quired yearly to meet this increase. Tin author feels the additional planned in crease in generating capacity for tin public utility industry will require at added coal tonnage because (I) sup ply of distillate fuel oil will increase faster than supply of residual oil am there will he no competition from thi source (2) natural gas has not am probably will not be a serious compet: tor to coal in this field of use. MIFi tiper. No number. FIRING FUELS Standards and R ules, by C T Kau man, Oil-Heat Institute of America, /n< The oil-heat industry's condition wit respect to standards is the paradoxic; one of starvation in the midst of pteSi'The industry itself has no standard; yet there are hundreds that cover i operation. These standards are in t' form of codes, ordinances, regulatioi Few of these standards have anythii whatever to do with quality or pi formance. Almost all are devoted safety. Only four are concerned at . with quality or performance. These a P O W ER July Ie